The UFC relented on their plans to have the UFC champ wait until UFC 200 to defend her belt and will defended it at UFC 197 against Tate. They will co-main the card.

Speculation is the event will take place March 6th in Vegas, but the UFC isn’t on the docket for the NSCA meeting next week. That could change.

In the mean time, Ronda Rousey will be keeping herself busy until she is fully healed.

After her first heartbreaking loss, Rousey will try to not only cheer herself up but make people laugh January 23rd on NBC, becoming the first MMA fighter to host Saturday Night Live. Rousey will also be in the upcoming Sports Illsutrated Swimsuit Issue and filming a few movies.

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Ashlee Evans-Smith is off suspension and will return to the UFC to take on Marion Reneau at UFC Pittsburgh February 21. Reneau lost a decision to eventual champion Holly Holm in her last outing, while Smith lost her debut to Raquel Pennington.

The match joins Sarah Moras versus Lauren Murphy on the card, which will air n Fox Sports 1.

Bellator has added a female bout to their January 29th event in Fresno, California.

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane will take on promotional debuter Amber Tackett on the undercard in a flyweight bout.

MacFarlane (2-0) is coming off a split decision win over Maria Rios in her Bellator debut. Tackett (1-1) recently return to action this past October, defeating Corina Herrera by decision.

Two bantamweight prospect will duke it out in February as well. England Kerry Hughes will face Ireland’s Sinead Kavanagh at BAMMA 24 in Dublin, Ireland.

Hughes (2-1) is coming off a year’s absence after a TKO win over Amanda Kelly.

Knockout specialist Kavanagh (1-0) was a finalist int eh IMMAF world tournament last year and won her pro debut in 17 seconds.

Catherine Costigan is expected to also fight on the show.

The match will be streamed and we will have details in the next few weeks on how to watch.

After an eight year absence from MMA, atomweight Hisae Watanabe will return to action.

The shootbox and kickboxing legend will face Korea’s Ye Ji Lee at World Series of Fight’s Global Championship card in Tokyo, Japan February 7th.

Watanabe (19-6) started her MMA career in 2002 and announced her “retirement” from MMA in 2007, although she has fought two exhibition bouts in 2010 and 2012. She fought in shootboxing and kickboxing until 2010 before taking a break to start a family.

The 16 year old Lee is coming off her first pro loss in MMA but was able to hold her own in her debut.

No word on if this will be streamed.

Two matches to look out for this weekend:

Two of the top flyweight prospects, Katlyn Chookagian (5-0) and Isabelly Varela (7-0), will square off for the initial CFFC flyweight title in Atlantic City, New Jersey Saturday. The match will air on CBS Sports Net at a future date, but GoFightLive will stream the event live for $17.

Jamie Colleen will defend her King of the Cage pro 115 title against Calie Cutler in Carlton, Minnesota. The match will air on MAv TV at a future date.

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